Growing Potatoes In Bags or Potato Sacks

At the appropriate planting time, set five tubers on top of a 6-8in/15-20cm layer of good quality compost in each Potato Growing Sack and then cover the tubers with a further 4in/10cm layer of compost and fertiliser.

As the plants grow and shoots emerge above the surface, add more compost to the potato growing sacks to cover the shoots and then repeat as needed until the compost is about 2in/5cm below the top of the bag.

Keep the compost moist at all times but don't saturate it as this might cause the tubers to rot.

An application of a high potash fertiliser at the rate suggested on the pack will increase yields. Avoid fertilisers high in nitrogen as these will delay maturity of the crop.

Potatoes need plenty of moisture, particularly round about flowering time which is when the tubers start to form. An occasional heavy watering is better than little and often as this does not get down far enough and encourages shallow rooting.

First Earlies are best harvested in small quantities and eaten straightaway when fresh in June and July.

Second Earliesand Saladvarieties can also be harvested in small quantities and eaten when fresh in June and July. Alternatively, if the skins are allowed to ‘set' - i.e. they don't rub off when lifted - cut the foliage down to stop continued growth, lift in September and store as per Maincrop varieties.

Maincrop varieties can be lifted from September onwards and stored as long as the tubers are lifted in dry conditions or are properly. Store in a hessian sack in a cool, dark, frost-free area.

When to plant potatoes in growing bags– Start your grow sacks in greenhouse or conservatory from as early as February and move outside when all risk of frost is past.

Where to grow potatoes – All potatoes do best grown in a light, warm sunny spot.

Soil / Compost – use a good proprietary compost or an equal mix of compost and soil and place a layer 4-6 inches in the bottom. Place potatoes on compost and cover with a further 4-6 inches of compost.

Earthing Up Potatoes – Potatoes grow from the stem beneath the surface. So keep covering the foliage with more compost as it grows until the sacks are full to within 4 inches of the top.

Feeding and Irrigation – This really is the big the secret. Mix potato fertiliser or a good general purpose fertiliser such as Growmore with the compost during planting and earthing up. Keep compost consistently moist (but not over wet) and you will reap dividends for your crop.

Potato Pest Control – Finally, Potato Blight can be a major problem from July with later yielding crops. Help fight this fungal disease with ‘Fruit and Vegetable Disease Control’, a traditional, protective fungicide, available from Marshalls.